Priyank’s eyes filled with tears as the pain he had buried for years tore through his heart. The weight of everything he had hidden threatened to consume him, and before he could stop them, the tears began to fall.
His whole life, he had fought, using pain as his motivation.
He hated how much his mother had lost in raising him.
The man who should have stood by her had left-for another woman.
But now, he understood. After everything he had learned about mate bonds, about the way the world worked… he could see it clearly. His father had left for his mate.
The hatred he had buried for so long surfaced, but now, a question clawed at him. ‘Can I even hate him?’
Maybe for killing his Angel parents, yes. But what about the miserable childhood he endured? The broken family he grew up in?
Move on? His mother wanted him to move on? *Can I?*
“Let me ask you… did you ever move on, Mom?” Priyank asked, his voice thick with emotion. He let his tears fall freely, feeling the warmth of his mother’s hand as she cupped his cheek.
Daisy’s breath hitched. It wasn’t often she saw Priyank cry-not since the day his father walked away.
“I did, son,” she murmured. “Even if a part of me still thinks about that man… I moved on. Because holding on to pieces that only make my happiness bleed-it’s not worth it.”
Priyank searched her face, and he knew she wasn’t lying. She had found a way to let go.
“And I never told you this before, but as your mother… I could never hate you.” She swallowed hard, her fingers brushing away his tears. “The man you became… this isn’t the Priyank I wanted for you. I wanted you to be happy. But you changed, and it kept happening, and I couldn’t stop it.”
She had held these emotions inside for so long, hoping-praying-that one day, he would change.
But it had only gotten worse.
“Priyank… money, power-none of it matters. I just want you to be happy. I want you to stop holding onto things that only hurt you-and stop hurting others. I know Priya is your happiness, but the way you treated her… the way you treat the world… do you really think you’ll ever find happiness like this?”
Priyank’s heart ached. He knew he was the worst kind of person to be, yet his mother always tried to see the good in him.
“You hate me, Mom?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I already told you, Priyank… I could never hate you,” she replied. “I know you’re just a little lost. That’s why, when I saw the way you looked at Priya-even after everything you did to her-I supported you. Maybe that made me a selfish mother, but all I ever wanted was to see you happy.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and before she could stop them, they spilled over. She pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him as if she could somehow take away his pain.
“Let it all go, Priyank,” his mother pleaded. “You have a beautiful life ahead of you, and you’ll never find another person like Priya. I just want to see you build the family you never had. This hatred, this ruthlessness… it won’t take you anywhere.” Her voice broke as she choked on her own tears.
Priyank clung to his mother like a child, his body shaking as he wept. “I don’t know how I’ll ever make things right,” he sobbed. Because even if he changed now, even if Priya slowly began to trust him again…
The truth would still ruin everything.
“The ones who apologize with a true heart and choose to stand by goodness and truth… it’s never easy for them, son,” she whispered. “But it’s never in vain. Listen to your heart-the answers have always been there.”
She pressed a soft kiss to his hair, holding him close.
Priyank pulled away from the hug and gently brushed his mother’s tears away with his thumb.
“You may not be a perfect human being,” she said softly, “but you are the best son anyone could ever have. And I know… if you try, you’ll be a good husband, a good father. Most importantly, I believe you can be the best version of yourself.” She smiled, her sincerity shining through-not just because she was his mother, but because she truly believed every word.
“Can I really?”
“Why wouldn’t you, son?”
“Because I’m pathetic,” his voice trembled. “Not just worse… the worst.”
Daisy’s heart ached. She reached for his hands, squeezing them gently. “I raised you, Priyank. No one knows you better than I do. You may be lost, but you are not the person you think you are.” She exhaled shakily. “The resentment you hold toward every woman except me… that’s my fault. I let it build. But in life, everyone gets a second chance, and this is yours. Take it-with honesty, son.”
“I love her so much,” Priyank choked out. “More than this life I’m living. She makes me feel things I never even knew existed. She’s my angel… and I feel like I’m losing her.” He spilled everything, not caring how vulnerable he sounded.
“I know,” Daisy said gently. “But she needs to hear it from you. You can’t justify your actions, but you *can* explain them. Ask for forgiveness. Show her-through your actions-how sincere you are. It will take time… but Priyank, you’re not losing Priya. *You* are the one who’s lost. Find yourself first, and let your heart lead the way.”
Priyank inhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “And what if it’s too late? What if I already ruined everything?”
Daisy cupped his face, her touch warm and reassuring. “If love is real, it doesn’t vanish that easily. But you have to fight for it, son. Not with force, not with control-but with honesty. With change.”
He swallowed hard. Deep down, he knew she was right. But the fear remained, clawing at his chest.
Priya had every reason to walk away.
And he had every reason to make sure she *didn’t*.
Because this time… he wasn’t going to lose her.
“Thanks for always loving me, Mom.”
Daisy’s smile was warm, unwavering. “I’m your mother. I’ll love you no matter what.”
Priyank gave a small nod. “Take care of yourself. I need to go.”
She nodded in return, and after one last hug, he left.
For the first time in years, his heart felt lighter-still burdened, but not as suffocating.
Now, he knew what he had to do. He needed to talk to Priya, to tell her the truth. No matter what it took, he would face it. Fight for it.
Because it wasn’t his sin to bear. The man responsible was nothing more than a ghost of his past, someone who had ceased to exist in his life long ago.
He would ask for forgiveness-for his own mistakes. But not for crimes he never committed.
If Priya wanted to hate him for being that man’s son, so be it. He hated himself for it too.
But he would not pay the price for a past that wasn’t his.
The evening air was thick with the scent of rain as Priyank drove toward the pack house. His grip on the wheel was tight, his mind racing.
Would she even listen?
Would she give him a chance to explain?
The thought of losing her gnawed at him, but he refused to let fear control him.
He would tell her everything.
And he would let her decide.